BOS 12, CLE 7: The Long and Winding Win

It may not have been the way that Clay Buchholz wanted to head into the post season, but a win is a win in professional sports, as the Red Sox took their 95th win of the season off of the Cleveland Indians, 12-7, on Sunday. Buchholz only lasted three innings, but the run support was there in droves, as J.D. Drew clocked two, Jed Lowrie belted a grand slam, and Alex Gonzalez made sure that everyone knew he was doing just fine with another home run, just to name a few.

BOS 11, CLE 6: Bats Boost Beckett Past Indians

The Boston bats had Beckett's back last night, in a big way. Alliteration aside, the Red Sox starter struggled through five innings, but came up with the win, his seventeenth of the season, as the Sox took a third game from the Cleveland Indians. With only one game left in the regular season, the quiet Red Sox backs woke up, as Aaron Laffey and the rest of the Tribe's pen were lit up, on the way to an 11-6 loss.

BOS 6, CLE 2: Sox Take Two from Cleveland

“Effective” isn’t a term often used to describe Daisuke Matsuzaka’s outings, but that’s exactly what he looked like in last night’s start, as the Red Sox took a second win off of the Cleveland Indians, 6-2.

10/2: Dicing them up

GAME NOTES: Dice-K enters his final start before October. He's looked a new man after missing most of the season with assorted problems. Can he keep it up?

10/1: Hello, October

GAME NOTES: You could make the case Cleveland is worse than Toronto and Kansas City. Let's hope so... so we can finally win a freaking game. Jon Lester takes the mound in a big tune-up game for him.

5/7: Insert Manny joke here

Manny, Manny, Manny....Manny, Manny, Manny (throw in a "Paint" from Eckersly), Manny...Manny.........Manny

5/6: Mastering Pavano

Justin Masterson has pitched impressively since joining the rotation. He has a 4.32 ERA starting which would be much lower had he not grooved a grand slam pitch to Evan Longoria. Pavano threw a gem against the Tigers, so may be coming around. Until he gets hurt.

4/29: Let’s get back on the horse

Jon Lester hurled 114 pitches over six innings his last start, continuing his workmanlike ways. His 4.88 ERA isn't pretty, but he's pitched better than that. He'll be opposed by a guy trying to get back to his 2007 ways. Carmona has had all sorts of bad luck against the Sox ranging from blown saves to blowout losses. J.D. Drew and Kevin Youkilis are on the bench in favor of Jonathan Van Every and Jeff Bailey. Nick Green is back at short.

4/28: Lugo’s baaack

The high ERA is misleading for Penny; he's had two quality starts in three tries. He's only struck out five, which is a concern (walked eight). His velocity is not the issue, so he just needs to work on command.

Reyes was in the doghouse for the Cardinals last year for no apparent reason. He's 13-25 with a 4.90 ERA, colored by a brutal (and so far, unsustained) 2007 campaign. Last year, he posted a 2.76 ERA in 49 innings with a 1.27 WHIP. His WHIP is 1.29 so far this year.

Tonight will be cold with showers. Julio Lugo makes his season debut.

4/27: Late Game Thread (still 0-0 so it counts)

Sorry for the late thread...some miscommunication at Fire Brand HQ cost us a few innings....but Wake's there to pick us up!